shelter

As Tropical Storm Harvey continues to batter eastern Texas and southwest Louisiana, life safety and access to safe shelters remain a priority of local responders, Texas officials, the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA), and the entire federal family.

More than 230 shelters are currently open across the affected and surrounding areas.Download the FEMA mobile app (available in English and Spanish) to register for assistance, and for directions to open shelters, a customizable checklist of emergency supplies, disaster survival tips, and weather alerts from the National Weather Service. The app also enables users to receive push notifications reminding them to take important steps to prepare their homes and families for disasters.

While immediate lifesaving and life sustaining operations are the priority for FEMA and FEMA partners, residents and business owners in designated counties who sustained damage due to Tropical Storm Harvey, and are able to do so, should apply for assistance by registering online at http://www.DisasterAssistance.gov.

Over the last few days, Typhoon Haiyan (also known as Yolanda) – one of the largest and strongest storms to make landfall in recorded history – has left thousands of people dead and hundreds of thousands homeless.

Government response and support to the affected has been abysmally slow. People worldwide are shocked by the failure to get aid to the 2.5 million people the UN estimates are in urgent need of food. In the Philippines, over 20,000 are still missing, relief agencies expect the number of dead to climb sharply in the coming days.

Some Headlines:

Typhoon Haiyan: Philippines government on defensive over slow response

Supplies of food and water running dangerously low in hardest-hit areas, as the mayor of devastated Tacloban City urges its residents to flee

Typhoon Haiyan: Philippines aid effort hampered by lawlessness

Some relief agencies scaling back in worst-hit areas due to desperate actions of Haiyan survivors and raids by bandits

Typhoon Haiyan: No medicine, little aid at Tacloban clinic

Philippines sifting through horror in Typhoon Haiya

If the typhoon death toll is confirmed, it would be the deadliest natural catastrophe on record in the Philippines.

AARP Foundation had created a relief fund to help the victims of this disaster – especially the hundreds of thousands of seniors who have been impacted. To further support these emergency relief efforts, AARP and AARP Foundation will match dollar–for–dollar contributions up to $500,000.

In response to this tragedy, AARP Foundation will work with organizations such as HelpAge, CARE and other organizations to provide relief to the victims of this disaster in the Philippines and across Southeast Asia. 100% of all funds raised will go to organizations helping the victims of this typhoon ... and every dollar will make a difference.EMERGENCY: Help elderly victims of Typhoon Haiyan - DONATE TODAY

Tornadoes and tornado shelters go together, so it is not uncommon to see an raised passion in shelters when tornadoes develop. This season however the passion reaches far past tornado alley. It seems the nation as a whole is preparing for this never ending risk. Storm cellar suppliers are seeing interest everywhere from item delivered to Colorado, to setting up car dealerships in Maryland and also fielding sales phone calls and web traffic from almost every state along the eastern Seaboard as Hurricane Season approaches. Storm Shelters Creating Nationwide Interest - READ MORE

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